/ səˈveɪə(r); NAmE sərˈv-/ noun
1.
a person whose job is to examine and record the details of a piece of land
2.
( BrE ) ( NAmE in·spect·or ) a person whose job is to examine a building to make sure it is in good condition, usually done for sb who is thinking of buying it
3.
( BrE ) an official whose job is to check that sth is accurate, of good quality, etc. :
the surveyor of public works
—see also quantity surveyor
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting a supervisor): from Anglo-Norman French surveiour , from the verb surveier , from medieval Latin supervidere , from super- over + videre to see.